The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-01
UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
Philosopher Fogg Studies Human Nature
in Railway Car.

in n Railway Car.
Upon general principles Fogg could
hardly be justified in doing as he did;
but as he claims to have done it purely
in the interest of social science, he
must be excused for his seeming i'm
politeness and cross selfshness.
Securing an entire seat in the rail
car, he laid his plans for that noblest
study of mankind, namely, man-man
of course embracing woman.
Presently young woman entered the
car. and seeing the vacant place beside
Fogg, she ambled up to where the
philosopher sat, and with the charming
confusion which was quite natural in
one who should presume to address so
dignified a gentleman, propounded this
question
lis this seat engaged, sir?"
The temptation of having so sweet a
companion in his travel was immense,
but togg had duty to perform. One
who has devoted himself to severe
study should not consult his personal
pleasure. He should be firm, no mat
ter at what cost. Therefore Fogg re-
piled, "Yes:" and he said il in voice
which could not have been calmer if he
had been telling the Bible truth.
The young woman blushed, not from
a suspicion of mendacty on the part of
Fogg, but merely because of her te-
merity in speaking to stranger. She
passed on, and although there were
several half-seats in the car, her mod
esty did not permit her to address any
one of the lone gentlemen occupying
the remaining halves, and the last togg
saw of the damsel she was disappear
ing through the door at the front end
of the car.
A man was the next to approach.
"Engaged?" eyes" said Fogg. This
man emitted q grunt, bestowed scowl
on Fogg, and passed on. His next at
tempt was successful. But he did not
appear at ease. He was continually
turning himself about and glazing
;l-rear, either at the door, through
which he expected somebody to enter,
or at the vacant space beside Fogg, as
though he suspected the latter of lying.
Fogg thinks it was not the door which
enchanted the gentleman $ attention.
But here comes another lady, al
though older than the first young wom-
an. Fogg braced himself in readiness
for another refusal; but the lady brushed
by him without looking at him. and
found a seat farther on by the side of
another lady. Fogg noticed, by the
coming in of several other women, that
they almost invariably preferred the
company of their own seX-at least in
rail car. 1t was past his philosophy
to discover why.
While Fogg was Illuminating upon
this unaccountable idiosyncrasy of the
fair sex, he was suddenly aroused by a
sharp feminine voice: SIS this seat
taken?" Fogg shook himself into con-
seriousness and repeated the refrain
"Yes." The lady pouted, corrugated
her brows, tossed her head, and then
braccd herself with determined air,
as though she should say: ''Well, l
suppose | can stand. You'll not be-
grudge me that privilege, you old
bearn Fogg, however, was not to- be
daunted; he was studying human ma
ture, and determined to pursue his in.
vestigation to the uttermost. 1t must
be admitted, nevertheless, that it was
quite trial for him to sit there with Il
vacant seat beside him, and one of the
weaker vessels standing there. Be-
sides, the weaker vessel interfered not
a little with his experiment; for long
procession of promising subjects passed
by without one of them PROFOUND
ing the important question. No
gentleman would presume to ask
for seat over which lady
stood guard, though not few looked
wistfully, and more than one of the
gentlemen would have sat down with
out ceremony had the Gorgon turned
her head away for but an instant. A
gentleman may enjoy his seat calmly
and comfortably, though scores of
women be standing; but to slip into q
seat before standing woman's very
face is quite another matter.
But presently the charm was broken.
A woman of generous bulk, cheaply
clad and not particularly clearly in
appearance, entered, with both arms
full of parcels the contents of the least
Objectionable of which was liberal
Junk of corned beef, wet and dripping
She brushed past the standing one, and
dumped herself plump into the seat
with Fogg. The philosopher was an
noyed. His Investigations had been
interrupted. Besides, the propinquity
of this woman, evidently an imported
article-not to mention the corned
beef, which was now bestewing its
moisture upon Fogg's pantaloons-was
not particularly pleasing. Fogg nerved
himself to a great effort. Madam"
he said, ''that seat is engaged"
"Sorr?n
Thus the foreign female. Fogg tried
again. Il say, madam, that seat is
taken"
Eye may will say it, aud purity will
taken, too, Dim a-thinkin." And she
gave him self-satisfed leer that was
exceedingly annoying. But she didn't
bulge. She had come to stay, together
with her bundles.
AS Fogg sat there, pinched into half
She space that the railroad company
usually allows its patrons, his panta-
looms now saturated by the saline eXu-
dation of that corned beef, the soiled
shawl fondly embracing his new, deli
cate toned overcoat. and the atmosphere
redolent with snickering and giggling,
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